Florida Atlantic: Teaching Teachers

In the world of education, Stephen Silverman, Ed.D., is not just sculpting minds; he’s building the architects of tomorrow’s learning landscape. With a career spanning four decades dedicated to unraveling the art of effective teaching, Silverman continues his mission at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Education as its dean, preparing teachers for the future.

Silverman’s pedagogical path, which began in educating physical education teachers, helped bring in $12.4 million in research grants last fiscal year. That’s the second-highest grant production of any college at Florida Atlantic.

“We need to base what we teach our students on evidence of effective instruction and other professional practice,” Silverman said. “[Research benefits] our students and the people they work with in their professional practice. Society benefits if we have good teachers, school leaders, counselors and speech pathologists. The college prepares teachers; school leaders; mental health, clinical rehabilitation and school counselors; and speech pathologists based on practical empirical evidence so professionals in that field can apply it or make informed decisions about their practice.”

Before coming to Florida Atlantic in 2019, Silverman taught for 21 years at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he was a professor, department chair and senior advisor to the provost for research preparation. He is now a professor emeritus. He previously held faculty positions at Louisiana State University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Florida Atlantic’s College of Education became the first public provider of educational professionals in South Florida in 1964. It currently has the largest teacher education school leaders’ program in Florida’s State University System, according to Silverman.

Under Silverman’s guidance, the Florida Department of Education has recognized the college multiple times as Florida’s top-rated teacher preparation program in elementary education, English as a second language and reading.

Additionally, the college’s graduate programs were ranked No. 117 in U.S.News & World Report’s list of “Best Graduate Programs” for 2023-24, moving up 46 spots in just two years.

“We’re moving in the direction of a research-based College of Education that produces graduates at the bachelor’s, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels to be practitioners, researchers and university faculty members,” said Silverman. “[My vision is to] keep moving forward at doing professional preparation, scholarship and service to the community and profession at higher levels each year and continue to be recognized as one of the top graduate schools of education in the country.”

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